Overview

• Kimberley Cookson, a nursery practitioner, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter in the death of Noah Sibanda at Fairytales Day Nursery in December 2022.
• Nursery director Deborah Latewood faces charges of failing to comply with health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Fairytales Nursery Limited has been charged with corporate manslaughter, citing systemic failures in safe sleep protocols and staff training as substantial factors in Noah’s death.
• Both defendants appeared at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on May 13, 2025, did not enter pleas, and were granted unconditional bail ahead of a Crown Court hearing on June 10.
• Four other individuals arrested during the investigation have been formally cleared of wrongdoing, according to West Midlands Police.